This survey investigated health insurance coverage, as well
as access to and use of health services, in each of ten states. With
the goal of remedying the previous lack of state-level data, the
survey was conducted to aid in defining problems of insurance coverage
and to analyze the impacts of states' policy options. The main unit of
observation is the health insurance family, which includes the head,
spouse, and their children up to age 18, or to age 23 if they were in
school. Variables on... (more info)

This survey investigated health insurance coverage, as well
as access to and use of health services, in each of ten states. With
the goal of remedying the previous lack of state-level data, the
survey was conducted to aid in defining problems of insurance coverage
and to analyze the impacts of states' policy options. The main unit of
observation is the health insurance family, which includes the head,
spouse, and their children up to age 18, or to age 23 if they were in
school. Variables on health insurance coverage include the types of
coverage respondents carried (Medicare, Medicaid, additional state or
federal programs, and private policies), sources of private policy
coverage, premiums paid for private policies, and number of months
uninsured during the last year. Access to health care is measured by
variables such as the type of usual health care provider, the amount
of time it usually took to get to the doctor's office, and whether
needed medical care was not received during the previous year.
Variables on the utilization of health care include the number of
overnight hospital stays, the number of visits to doctors, age at
first DPT (diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus) shot, age at first
oral polio immunization, and the number of months since the most
recent breast exam and Pap smear. The survey also elicited
self-reported health status and opinions on the health care system,
gauged satisfaction/dissatisfaction with health services received, and
gathered information on employment, income, education, migration, age,
sex, marital status, race, Hispanic origin, and citizenship.

Dataset 2 (FIPS State and County Codes for Main Data File) is restricted from general dissemination for reasons of confidentiality. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete an Agreement for the Use of Confidential Data, specify the reasons for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research. Apply for access to these data through the ICPSR restricted data contract portal, which can be accessed via the study home page.

Version(s)

Original ICPSR Release:1997-04-22

Version History:

2005-06-22 A SPSS setup file for Part 1 has been
added to the collection and the SAS setup file has been enhanced.

1999-12-29 A file with FIPS state and county codes,
which can be merged with Part 1, Main Data File, has been added as
Part 2. This file is restricted from dissemination. To obtain this
file, researchers must agree to the terms and conditions of a
restricted data use agreement in accordance with existing servicing
policies.

1997-11-18 A report, "Data Cleaning Procedures for
the 1993 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Family Health Insurance
Survey," has been added to the documentation for this study. All
documentation is now available as a PDF file.